Welcome to the exciting world of travel nursing where you visit new places and face new challenges every assignment. Imaging yourself waking up into a new city, working with new coworkers, working in new place and exploring new cities. If you have passion to help patients but also adventurous to seek new challenges, then travel nursing is the best career option for you! But how long are travel nursing assignments? Let’s answer this question and everything you need to know about the travel nurse contract length.
What is travel nursing?
Specialized nurses take short contracts typically from few weeks to several months to work at a healthcare facility where there is a shortage of staff. This is an ideal career choice for those nurses who want to travel but also want a flexible lifestyle where they can work and explore at the same time.
Why choose travel nursing?
In travel nursing, nurses can choose their own assignments according to their preferences, they can decide where they want to work and for how long they want to work. The flexibility, pay, and other benefits make travel nursing one of the most interesting career choices for the nurses. Travel nursing is a temporary solution for staffing shortages where healthcare facilities can provide continuing effective patient care when there is a shortage of staff.
How long are travel nurse contracts?
Duration of travel nursing assignments:
Travel nursing assignments typically range from 2 weeks to 26 weeks, but the average travel nursing contract is 13 weeks. Other common durations for travel nursing contracts are 4, 8 or 6 weeks but sometimes it can extend to 6 months or one year.
Factors affecting assignments length:
The assignments lengths for travel nurses can be affected by the following such as:
- Facility needs such as seasonal demands, shortage of staff or emergencies.
- Specialty demand
- Geographical location
- Negotiation flexibility
Types of travel nursing contracts
Travel nursing offers different types of assignments for travel nurses that fit their lifestyle, preferences, specialty and skills. Travel nursing assignments can be short, medium, or long-term depending on the situation.
- Short-term contracts (4-8 weeks or 2-week assignments)
- Standard contracts (13 weeks or 3 months)
- Long-term contracts (6 months to year)
- Per diem contracts (day to day)
- Crisis or rapid response contracts
- Local travel nursing contracts
Short-term travel nursing contracts
Short term assignments are either 2-week assignments or 4–8-week assignments. It is perfect for the nurses if they want flexible and quick assignments and do not want to commit to long period assignments.
Pros:
- Flexibility and variety.
- Nurses can make quick money without long-term commitments.
- Testing new locations before going for long assignments.
- Helps in resume building and skill development.
Cons:
- Frequent moving can be stress full.
- Less time to settle in new location.
- Limited benefits.
- Low job security.
Standard contracts (13 weeks or 3 months)
Standard contracts are typically for 13 weeks or about 3 months and it is best for the nurses who wants job stability and flexibility.
Pros:
- Flexibility and stability
- More time to adjust with team members.
- Potential for extending contracts and bonuses.
- Excess to more benefits.
- Extra time to explore the new city.
Cons:
- Less flexibility
- Potential burnout
- Finding temporary housing
- Less control over shifts and time off requests
- Licensing and compliance requirements
Long term travel nursing contracts
Long-term contracts typically range from 6 months to a year. It is ideal for the nurses who want maximum stability and prefer staying at a location for more time.
Pros:
- Greater job stability and predictable work schedule.
- More time to build relationships with team members.
- Benefits and completion bonuses.
- Less stress and hassle of relocation.
- More time to explore the area.
Cons:
- Reduced flexibility
- Potential burnout is possible.
- Less opportunities to explore more cities.
- Housing challenges.
- Licensing and credentialling commitments.
Per diem travel nursing contracts
Per diem contracts are the ones in which you get paid on day to day basis. This allows us to pick up shifts with very short notice and is ideal for last minute assignments to make some extra money.
Pros:
- Maximum flexibility.
- Making quick extra money.
- Exploring different facilities.
- Work life balance.
- Minimal commitment.
Cons:
- Lack of job security.
- Unpredictable schedule.
- No benefits.
- No time to build team relationships.
- Self-employment considerations.
Crisis and rapid response travel nursing assignments
During crisis healthcare facilities need urgent staffing such as pandemics, natural disasters etc. during this time per diem jobs are life saver where nurses can full fill the gaps to ensure effective patient care.
Pros:
- Higher pay.
- Sharpen skills.
- Fast track hiring.
- Extra money without long commitments.
Cons:
- Intense workload and stress.
- Unpredictable environment.
- Potential safety risks.
- Limited to adjust.
- Uncertain assignment length.
Local travel nursing contracts
These types of travel nursing assignments nurses can choose different facilities but in the same city. They prefer to work in different environments but will prefer to stay home. This contract typically lasts from 8 weeks to 13 weeks.
Pros:
- Flexibility in job without relocation.
- There is no need for housing arrangements.
- Familiar with the area.
- Higher pay compared to permanent staff.
Cons:
- Limited travel experience.
- Less benefits.
- Limited local contracts.
Conclusion
Travel nursing is flexible and exciting career path offering diverse range of contracts that fits different lifestyles an preferences. If you are a travel nurse who does not want to commit to one facility but want to discover new places and make extra money, then travel nursing is perfect career choice for you. You can choose from short term, long term, per diem and many other options that suit your needs and preferences.
If you are bored from your typical nursing job, then join SkillGigs now and find your dream job that meets your needs.
